What are Customers Looking for when it Comes to Packaging? Your Top Questions Answeredsubmitted on 1 October 2017
When something becomes immensely popular, it’s time to look for something else; when you want to stay original, you have to be ahead of the crowd. In economics, there’s an interesting phrase describing this: ‘abundance creates a new scarcity.’ When everyone starts drinking milk, those who are ahead will be seen with chocolate milk. The same is true when it comes to your packaging; when everyone is doing the same thing, it’s time for you to find new ways of standing out.
Trends come and go, and being able to predict what will be ‘in’ and ‘hot’ a few months from now can give you an enormous advantage over your competitors. So what are your customers looking for when it comes to packaging? Here are your top questions answered.
Keeping it simple
There have often been trends in which the packaging needed to dazzle the consumer in order to attract, but recently we’ve seen a return to basics and find that keeping it simple is the way to go – stick to the message. Be clear and be bold, and don’t let too much detail get in the way of a clear message.
Patterns
The background pattern has returned, just like the wallpaper – a simple pattern (whether it’s bold or playful) seems to have made a come-back. These patterns could be as straightforward as small dots in the background, or could be as complicated as Arabic geometrical patterns; as long as they make an impression. Background patterns are also a great way to unify different kinds of products or flavours under one common brand.
Going vintage
Maybe it’s because of the overwhelming presence of modern technology, or maybe it’s because there are cycles in fashion; either way, going vintage with your packaging design and colours seem to make a big impact nowadays.
Decorative touches
Don’t just think of a package as something that needs to attract attention on the shelves in a supermarket. Think of a package as something that needs to look good on the shelf at home. Give it a decorative touch.
Colours
When it comes to colours, you’ll want to go bold and present plenty of contrast. The design can be simple, but the colours have to stand out.
The new trends in packaging are no longer simply about being able to protect and ship your product, or designing it so it can sell well. There’s a lot more to it – it’s also about bringing a piece of art to the customer, and even trying to personalise it. It’s about reversing the trend of mass production and going back to the individual. It’s a about trying to give the customer an experience no other company can.
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